I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit [242]

"Today's breakfast features baby dragon bacon with sunny-side-up eggs and a salad made with fresh asparagus and lettuce. The bread is for you to choose, and the salad is made with vegetables harvested this morning. However, be cautious—the asparagus has strong attack power, so beware of counterattacks."

The elderly butler who brought Nero her breakfast delivered this peculiar warning with a straight face. For a moment, Nero froze, unable to comprehend the meaning behind "strong attack power."

Compared to the fact that a dragon—one of the highest-tiered fantasy creatures—was being served on her plate, Nero was far more intrigued by the notion of combative asparagus.

What? Is this vegetable going to breathe fire at me or something?

And then… the asparagus on her plate snatched her dining knife and lunged at her eye. However, she deftly blocked the attack with the fork in her other hand.

Nero: "..."

I am the Emperor of Rome. There's nothing I haven't seen.

...Apologies. This, she truly had never seen before.

"In a world where even vegetables possess combat abilities... I feel like I've encountered something similar before. What world was that again?"

...Certainly not "Plants vs. Zombies."

After breakfast, Claire approached Nero, stating her intent to locate Nero's homeland, Rome, so they could arrange for her return.

Following last night's battle, most people had come to believe Nero's claim of being a Roman emperor, even if none of them had ever heard of a nation called Rome.

However, Nero's response to Claire was:

"I am Rome! The land beneath my feet is Rome! UmU!"

As she declared this, Nero stood with her hands on her hips, her posture resembling that of a proud and elegant swan.

Naturally, Claire was stunned.

There was no way for Claire to know of Rome—after all, Rome didn't exist in this world.

Even in her original world, the Roman Empire had long since fallen.

Of course, Nero did not acknowledge the notion of Rome's demise.

I am Rome. Human civilization is Rome. The world is Rome.

As long as human civilization thrived, Rome would endure.

Even in another world, Rome existed! Rome was everywhere!

Today, Alice was originally supposed to attend lessons.

However, since she had stayed up too late last night, her lessons were postponed.

In other words, Alice had an unexpected day off—albeit a rescheduled one.

In the afternoon, Alice appeared before Nero, carrying a box of game pieces.

"Excuse me, Sister Nero... Would you play this game with me?"

Alice asked timidly, as though she feared Nero might decline.

Nero's expression grew serious.

"What did you just call me?"

"Um… Could you play this game with me?"

"Not that. The part before."

"Be… before?" Alice tilted her head in confusion. "Sister Nero?"

"Say it again!"

"Sister... Nero? You don't like that name?"

Alice shrank back like a startled kitten, clearly afraid she had offended Nero.

"No! Of course not! On the contrary, I am absolutely thrilled with it! I couldn't be happier!" Nero exclaimed with enthusiasm. "To be called sister by such a sweet and adorable girl with such a lovely voice—this is one of the most delightful things in existence! I'm so overjoyed, I could burst into song! Please, you must keep calling me this. Or better yet, just call me Sister directly! It would make me even happier."

"Is… is that so?"

"Yes! Absolutely. So, how about trying it? Call me sister directly. I give you permission!"

Both Nero's suggestion and her exuberance left the shy Alice visibly flustered.

Yet under Nero's expectant gaze, Alice summoned her courage and whispered, in a voice just slightly louder than a mosquito's:

"S-sister."

"Mm! Sister shall accompany you in this game!"

And so, Nero officially became Alice's sister.

There had been someone in the past who also used to call Nero "sister."

I wonder how Jasmine is doing now... Should I find a chance to go back and see her?

Still, given the differing flow of time between worlds, even if Nero returned, only about a month would have passed for Jasmine.

"Sister? Sister?"

"Ah, my apologies... It seems I was lost in thought."

Nero refocused and picked up a game piece, moving it forward.

"No, I should be the one apologizing... If you were thinking about something important and I interrupted you..."

"Don't worry about it. I was just reminiscing... Looking at you, Alice, reminded me of someone."

"I see... That person must be very important to you," Alice said hesitantly.

"Mm, extremely important."

Nero's face softened into a tender expression, one so gentle that it surprised Alice.

Curiosity swelled in Alice's chest, compelling her to ask:

"What kind of person is she?"

"What kind of person..." Nero furrowed her brow. "Let me see... She could cook, shop, and handle chores. She was extraordinarily talented and obedient, though a bit shy and awkward around others. Sometimes she was more stubborn than anyone else, despite her abilities. She gave the impression of being helpless without me, as if she couldn't do anything on her own. In short, she was someone exasperating and troublesome, yet endearing—almost like a little sister."

"Why only almost like a little sister?"

I can't very well say that Jasmine is like both a sister and a daughter to me, can I?

When Nero spoke of Jasmine, her smile was one Alice had never seen before—gentle and filled with warmth.

That smile stirred something indescribable in Alice's chest, a complex emotion she couldn't fully grasp.

Driven by this feeling, Alice's desire to know Nero's past became all the more urgent.

"Sister..."

"Mm? What is it? I'm listening, my dear little sister."

Every time Alice said the word "sister," her heart would race, especially when looking into Nero's face as she said it.

The term "sister" was foreign to Alice—she had a brother but no sisters.

In terms of age, many around her could have been called sisters, such as Claire, Reine, or even the eldest daughter of the Dustinis family, who was close to Alice.

However, as a princess of royal lineage, everyone around Alice treated her with reverence, addressing her with the utmost respect due to her status.

Additionally, her father and brother doted on her immensely, lavishing her with the finest of everything.

That's why Alice had never met anyone like Nero before—a person who dared to barge into her chambers in the dead of night and whisk her off to a perilous battlefield.

Nero had brought Alice many "firsts."

And so, to Alice, Nero was unlike anyone else.

Thus, Alice wanted to understand Nero better.

So...

"I want to hear... about your past, Sister."

Alice raised her head cautiously to look at Nero, her eyes full of vulnerability. It was as if a refusal from Nero would shatter her completely.

"Is... is that okay?"

---

T/N: AIRHAIFIAHFI IM GONNA DIE IF I DONT FIND OUT WHICH WORLD THIS IS

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